CLERMONT, Fla. - The William Paterson softball team (4-5) fell in game one to Franklin & Marshall (3-4), 10-2, before suffering a 9-1 loss against the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse (8-4) in game two on March 19 at The Spring Games.
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Pioneers grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first. After sophomore Kelsey Guerts drew a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Aubrey Miller (Sewell, N.J./Gloucester County Institute of Technology), senior Hailey Backo (Wallington, N.J./Wallington) delivered an RBI double to right center, plating Guerts for the first run of the game.
- Frankin & Marshall responded in the bottom of the inning to tie the game at 1-1.
- The Diplomats scored two runs in the third before adding on four runs in the fourth to make the score 7-1.
- In the top of the fifth, senior Gabriella Vazquez (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany Hills) led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on senior Brandi Shortway's (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) RBI single to left-center, cutting the deficit to 7-2.
- Frankin & Marshall plated three runs in the bottom half, defeating the Pioneers 10-2 after five innings.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Shortway went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
Vazquez recorded a 1-for-2 performance with a run scored.
Backo finished 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI.
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED:
UW-La Crosse scored one run in the first to take an early 1-0 lead.
WP responded in the bottom of the first when Shortway drew a walk, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior
Molly Cocco (Florham Park, N.J./Hanover Park), and stole third. Backo then delivered an RBI triple to center field, scoring Shortway to tie the game at 1-1.
The Eagles regained control with two runs in the fourth and pulled away with a five-run sixth inning, going on to defeat the Pioneers 9-1 in six innings.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
Backo went 1-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
Shortway finished 1-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base, and one run scored.
Miller tossed six innings and recorded five strikeouts.
UP NEXT:
WP returns to action tomorrow March 20 for a 1:30 p.m. matchup against SUNY-Geneseo and a 3:45 p.m. game versus New York University.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS:
http://www.wpupioneers.com/socialmedia
